1986 monorail fire

[Space Mountain]

holy ____

 

[WDW Monorail]

Wow. I didn't think that it was that bad.

What happened to the rest if the train? Was it refurbed or was a new train ordered?

 

[PlutoInOrlando]

Great...
Now I have to go back down to WDW to ride the Monorail and try to find "THE Spot". (if still visable after all these years - kinda like a hidden Mickey)

Imagine that speil -

"Please stand clear of the doors (and smoke, and fire, and melting plastic) - Por favor, mantenganse allejado de las puertas (y nombre, y fuego, y fusion de plastico". :ROFLOL:
(probably not correct spanish, but i tried! hahaha)

Sorry - had to throw that in there!

(And only laughable becuase no one was hurt!)

 

[WDWcouple]

--BUMP--
For your persistance

 

[mrerk]

I think I may have the newspaper clipping of that story. I don't recall ever seeing that picture though. I did have some pictures I took myself, however my camera was stolen from my I-Drive hotel room :fork: later that trip and the film was in the camera.

 

[mrerk]

Great...
Now I have to go back down to WDW to ride the Monorail and try to find "THE Spot". (if still visable after all these years - kinda like a hidden Mickey)

Imagine that speil -

"Please stand clear of the doors (and smoke, and fire, and melting plastic) - Por favor, mantenganse allejado de las puertas (y nombre, y fuego, y fusion de plastico". :ROFLOL:
(probably not correct spanish, but i tried! hahaha)

Sorry - had to throw that in there!

(And only laughable becuase no one was hurt!)

I find it amazing no one was hurt. These were the old trains with no roof hatches.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Some perspective on the time line-

2007
- 1985
= 22 Years Ago.

 

[BSikor]

I practically grew up at Disney since I lived so close and I remember I was on vacation in Massachusetts at the time and saw it on the evening news. I drove by when we got back and saw the black char from the spot. The black stain was there for the longest time but overtime it is barely noticeable. It is about 5 seconds after the curve where the monorail starts to runs parallel with World Drive if you are heading north to the Magic Kingdom toll plaza. I barely see it now a days.

 

[scottnj1966]

The monorails have had many things incorporated into the new design for safety.
Roof hatches on each end of each car.
Heat sensors
Non-Flammable materials

I am sure other things have been added also.

 

[BSikor]

I find it amazing no one was hurt. These were the old trains with no roof hatches.

I remember people saying they climbed to the roof to escape the flames and vaguely remember seeing that image on the news. I remember riding the monorail shortly after and seeing the fire extinguishers installed in all the cabs.

 

[Krozar]

Yes, MUCH safer. Layers of safety. Plus, the new LMCU2 displays give much more diagnostic information. Although, I won't get into any specifics or details.

Also, if you're at the TTC on the Epcot line platform, look at the end of the platform facing the ticket booths. That blue tarp covers a very important piece of safety equipment which I assume was not in use back in 1985.

Abstract (Article Summary)
Firefighters inspect burned-out car . . . passengers avoided smoke, flames by climbing onto roof. VICTOR JUNCO SENTINEL Fire engulfs rear of Disney monorail . . . visitor from New York took picture shortly after 9 p.m. PHOTO/VIDAL MEDINA Flames engulfed last car of 6-car train between Epcot Center and Magic Kingdom. VICTOR JUNCO SENTINEL Firefighters help passenger from cherry picker after rescue. VICTOR JUNCO ...

An amazing feat, considering that the Mark IVs only had 5 cars.

 

[Jesùs_Carioca]

In respect to the picture...out of the two tires that you can see, the one on the left looks more tattered up than the one on the right. Was that the wheel with the malfunction that started the fire?

Also, if you're at the TTC on the Epcot line platform, look at the end of the platform facing the ticket booths. That blue tarp covers a very important piece of safety equipment which I assume was not in use back in 1985.

What's under the tarp and what does it do? Asking here before curiosity convinces me that it is my duty to physically unveil the tarp myself.

 

[marni1971]

Scott - interesting find for its historical status. If I recall the company tried a bit of a media blackout with images.

 

[mrerk]

I found some newspaper clippings and pics from the paper. I'll see if I can get them scanned later on today.

 

[mrerk]

It was this one event that Disney decided to install the Alison Heat Detection systems in all the Mark IV trains. The Mark VI trains had them built into the design. But the Mark IV's were retrofitted. And BTW I believe the fire was in Mark IV Silver.

One of the pics I have to get scanned was taken in the barn. There is a tarp covering the burned part, but the part sticking out is Monorail Green.

 

[Mr_Tom_Morrow]

Hate to open an old thread but I thought I would share this with everyone.

I'm not one for using profanity on this board but..
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN!!!! :lookaroun

 

[Fievel]

Wow....

 

[mikeymouse]

how would they get onto the roof if there were no roof hatches? knowing my luck, i'd climb onto the roof and then slide off the edge!

 

[mrerk]

Finally got them scanned and uploaded:

 

[mrerk]